Solenostemon plant named ‘TRE RES 08’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct  Solenostemon  plant cultivar is disclosed, characterized by deeply lobed, unjulating leaves; a sun tolerant  Solenostemon  that exhibits four colors; a more uniform growth habit; and short internodes.

Latin name of the genus and species: Solenostemon scutellarioides.

Variety denomination: ‘TRI RES 08’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The new cultivar ‘TRI RES 08’ is a product of a natural mutation. The new cultivar was discovered and selected by Leroy and Jackie Griffard in April 2004 in Ste. Genevieve, Mo. The new cultivar was discovered in a greenhouse in a group of other Solenostemon plants but exhibited different leaf coloring and growing characteristics. The exact parent plant is unknown.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar ‘TRI RES 08’ by terminal cuttings was performed in Ste. Genevieve, Mo. and Oxnard, Calif., and has shown that the unique features of this new cultivar are stable and reproduced true to type on successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The cultivar ‘TRI RES 08’ has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environment such as temperature, daylength, and light intensity, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘TRI RES 08’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘TRI RES 08’ as a new and distinct Solenostemon cultivar:

-   -   1. Deeply lobed, unjulating leaves;     -   2. A sun tolerant Solenostemon that exhibits four colors;     -   3. A more uniform growth habit; and     -   4. Short internodes.

In comparison to the commercially available variety ‘Touch of Class’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 14,392), ‘TRI RES 08’ is more compact in both height and plant spread. Additionally, the foliage of the new variety ‘TRI RES 08’ are a darker green and a darker red than the green and red in the foliage of ‘Touch of Class’. Further, the markings on the foliage of the new variety ‘TRI RES 08’ are different in shape than ‘Touch of Class.’

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

The accompanying photograph in FIG. 1 illustrates in full color a typical plant of ‘TRI RES 08’ grown in a four-inch pot. One cutting was used in the pot, planted mid December and grown in a greenhouse. During the production of the plants, day temperatures were about 25° C., night temperatures were about 12° C. and light levels ranged from 4,000 to 6,000 footcandles. The colors are as nearly true as is reasonably possible in a color representation of this type.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used. The following observations and measurements describe ‘TRI RES 08’ plants grown in Oxnard, Ventura County, Calif., during the months of December through February. The growing temperature ranged from 12° C. to 15° C. at night to 12° C. to 20° C. during the day. Measurements and numerical values represent averages of typical Solenostemon plants.

-   Botanical classification: Solenostemon cultivar ‘TRI RES 08.’ -   Commercial classification: Coleus.

PROPAGATION

-   Type cutting: Terminal cuttings. -   Time to initiate roots: 4 days with 18° C. -   Time to develop roots: 6 to 8 days with 16° C. to 18° C. -   Root description: Fine, fibrous, white in color. -   Rooting habit: Freely branching.

PLANT

-   Form: Annual potted or garden plant. -   Growth habit: Low and outwardly spreading plant habit. -   Growth rate: Rapid; moderately vigorous. -   Plant height: About 30 cm. -   Plant diameter: About 35 cm. -   Branching habit: Freely branching with about nine lateral branches     per plant. -   Length of Lateral branches: About 15 cm. -   Diameter: About 5 cm. -   Internode length: About 3 cm. -   Strength: Strong. -   Aspect: Initially upright then outwardly spreading. -   Shape, in cross-section: Squarish. -   Texture: Pubescent. -   Color: Near Greyed-Purple 183A.

FOLIAGE

-   Arrangement: Opposite; simple. -   Length: About 9.5 cm. -   Width: About 6.5 cm. -   Shape: Roughly deltoid. -   Apex: Broadly acute. -   Base: Truncate. -   Margin: Crenate; scalloped, ruffled. -   Texture:     -   -   Upper surface.—Lightly pubescent.         -   Lower surface.—Lightly pubescent. -   Venation pattern: Pinnate; netted. -   Color: -   Developing foliage on the upper surface:     -   -   Towards the margins.—Near Greyed-Purple 187A and 187B.         -   Towards the center.—Near Green 139C.         -   Center.—Near Yellow-Green 154C.         -   Towards the base.—A mix of Green 139C and Greyed-Purple             187B.         -   Venation.—Near Green-Purple 187A. -   Developing foliage on the lower surface:     -   -   Towards the margins.—Near Greyed-Purple 187A and 187B.         -   Towards the center.—Near Green 139C.         -   Center.—Near Yellow-Green 154C.         -   Towards the base.—A mix of Green 139C and Greyed-Purple             187B.         -   Venation.—Near Green-Purple 187A. -   Fully expanded foliage on the upper surface:     -   -   Towards the margins.—Near Greyed-Yellow 162C.         -   Towards the center.—Near Green 139C.         -   Center.—Near Greyed-Purple 187A.         -   Towards the base.—Near Green 139C and Greyed-Purple 187A.         -   Venation.—Near Greyed-Purple 187A. -   Fully expanded foliage on the lower surface:     -   -   Towards the margins.—Near Greyed-Yellow 162C.         -   Towards the center.—Near Green 139C.         -   Center.—Near Greyed-Purple 187A.         -   Towards the base.—Near Green 139C and Greyed-Purple 187A.         -   Venation.—Near Greyed-Purple 187A. -   Petiole length: About 3.5 cm. -   Petiole diameter: About 0.2 cm. -   Petiole color:     -   -   Towards the apex.—Near Greyed-Purple 187B with shades of             near Green 139C.         -   Towards the base.—Near Greyed-Purple 187B. -   Flower description: Flower development has not been observed to     date.

OTHER CHARACTERISTICS

-   Disease resistance: Neither resistance nor susceptibility to     diseases or pests has been observed in this variety. -   Drought tolerance/cold tolerance: Plants of the new Solenostemon     have been observed to have no drought tolerance and do not produce     at a temperature lower than 8° C. -   Fruit/seed production: Commercially, this plant is not used or     observed in a stage where seeds would be produced. Therefore, seed     production has not been observed. 

1. A new and distinct cultivar of Solenostemon plant named ‘TRI RES 08’ as herein illustrated and described. 